Portable easel for artists and the like



Dec. 26, 1967 c. NICHOLAS 3,360,225

PORTABLE EASEL FOR ARTISTS AND THE LIKE Filed July l5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 FIGJ /0 INVENTOB CLEMENS NICHOLAS izz;

ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1967 MCHOLAS PORTABLE EASEL FOR ARTISTS AND THE LIKE Filed July l5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CLEMENS NICHOLAS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,360,226 PORTABLE EASEL FOR ARTISTS AND THE LIKE Clemens Nicholas, 801 Sudbury, Clayton, Mo.

Filed July 15, 1966, Ser. No. 565,591 3 Claims. (Cl. 248455) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to folding easels for use by artists and others whose work or avocation may require an easel of exceptional lightweight, compactness and portability. When painting or sketching outdoors, artists frequently carry a large stiff-sided fiat portfolio for holding large sheets of paper or canvases, as well as art supplies, a folding stool, and certain make-shift provisions to serve as an easel to support their work.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an easel of such rectangular dimensions and flatness as to fit easily Within such conventional portfolio, and on which the portfolio itself may be supported in use, to serve as a backing for the paper or canvas which is the subject of the artists work.

Further purposes are to provide a space framework suitable to serve .as an easel but which folds substantially into a plane, and to utilize a plurality of hinged elements of the framework which when unfolded provide for a selection of angular elevations at which the art work is to be held. A still further purpose of the present invention is to substitute for a conventional easel, a simple folding space framework which when erected has interconnected elements one of which rests on the ground and another rests on the lap of the user.

These and other purposes which will be evident from this specification are achieved in the present invention generally as follows:

I utilize a series of rectangular open frames formed of rigid round tubing or wire and hinged together. Each is successively smaller than the first so that all can fold into the plane of the first. Hinged to an end element of the first are the ends of the second frame element, which is U-sh-aped. A simple tension tape permits them to be spread apart at an angle greater than 90 and less than 180, so that the lower end of the first frame may rest on the ground and the remote end element of the second frame may rest on the lap of the artist. An art materials support angle member, which grasps a pivoted bracket on this end of the second member, holds the portfolio in place to serve as a backing for the art work. An additional smaller frame similarly hinged to land within the second frame at the support angle member, provides for increased elevation, if this is desired; .a fourth, still smaller frame supports from the first frame, by a clip. Yet all the frame members fold into a shallow planar space, that is, all will fit substantially within the area of the largest frame and occupy a thickness equal to the diameter of the hinging bands formed therealbout. Since for some uses a large ledge abutment may be desired, to support 3,360,226 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 the art materials, a simple removable ledge angle is provided, which if large in size may be carried externally of the portfolio.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an easel embodying the present invention, shown folded and with the ledge angle removed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the folded easel.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the easel fully elevated, with the ledge angle mounted in place, the position of the user being shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the easel only partly elevated, the strap being extended to permit use in horizontal position.

FIG. 5 .is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the pivotal bracket mount of the ledge angle.

The compact size of the present folding easel, with the ledge angle removed, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The plan view FIG. 1 best shows the plurality of open frames of successively smaller size, both in length and width. The four frames there shown are each formed of lightweight metal tubing, preferably of the same circular crosssection. The largest frame generally designated 10 is foursided, having two parallel longer side elements 11, a straight end element 12 which defines the Width of the frame 10 and is perpendicular to the side elements 11, and a bottom end element 13, bent slightly inward at its center so that its outer portions 14 will make firm contact on uneven earth.

The other three frames, generally designated 20, 25 and 30 are each of successively smaller size, both in length and width. The second frame 20 has a hinged attachment to the end element 12 of the first frame 10. In the embodiment shown such hinged attachment is accomplished simply by forming the frame 20 to a substantially rightangled U-shape, with side elements 21 extending perpendic ularly from an end element 22 which defines its width. The tip portions of the parallel side elements 21 remote from its end element 22 are flattened and bent into bandlike eye portions 23, shown in the enlarged fragmentary view, section 5. These eye portions 23 may thus pivot hingedly about the circular-section end element 12, which serves as a member common to the connected rectangular pattern of the first and second frames 10, 20. The spacing of the eye portions 23 close to the bend radius of the rectangular corner bends 15, at the juncture of the end element 12 with the side elements 11, provides firm support against side-sway of the easel.

The third, successively smaller frame generally designated 25 is formed similarly to the second frame 20. It includes parallel side elements 26 connected by an end element 27 perpendicular thereto, which defines the width of the frame 25. The remote ends of the side elements 26 are formed into flattened band-like eye portions 28, similar to the band-like eye portions 23 of the second frame element 20, mounted hingedly about the end element 22 of the second frame.

A fourth frame generally designated 30 is formed somewhat similarly but has much shorter parallel side elements 31 connected by an end element 32 perpendicular thereto and which defines the width of the frame 30. Remotely from the end element 32, the side elements 31 are provided with flattened band-like eye portions 33, formed similarly to the band-like eye portions 23, 28 heretofore described, mounted hingedly about the end element 27 of the third \frame 25.

All the frames 10, 20, 25 and 30 may be formed of the same diameter tubing; alternately the U-shaped frames 20, 25 and 30 may be formed of tubing of slightly less outer diameter or less wall thickness, so as to minimize the thickness of their band-like eye portions 23, 28 and 33. From FIG. 2 it will be apparent that the diameter of these band-like eye portions 23, 28 and 33 determines how much width must be allowed within the portfolio for the folded easel, at least for its end shown at the right side of FIG. 1.

Along the left end of the easel, and pivotally mounted on the end element 22 of the second frame 20, are a pair of spaced-apart pivoting brackets generally designated 35, shown in detail in FIG. 6. These brackets are preferably formed of sheet metal. Each has a pair of spaced knuckle portions 36 formed around the second frames end element 22 in the manner of a hinge; and a flat leaf portion 37 between them which extends above the end element 22 from its outer to its inward side. The leaf portion 37 is in the simple embodiment shown, in planar alignment with a balancing outward-extending portion 38 which terminates in a 180 upward and inward bend 29, as best shown in FIG. 6.

A ledge angle member generally designated 40 has at its ends a pair of downward and outward 180 bend portions 41, spaced correspondingly to the spacing of the brackets 35. These bends are of such proportions as to engage with and be grasped by the 180 bend portions 39 of the brackets 35. By the meshing of the 180 bend portions 39, 41, the brackets 35 releasably secure the ledge angle member 40 in a balanced position upon the end element 22. Thus the extension of the leaf portions 37 to the inward side of the end element 22 will press upward against and support the portfolio laid upon them and upon the angle member 40, preventing the pivoted angle member 40 from tilting.

When opened for use out of planar alignment shown in FIG. 1, the larger frame and second frame 20 are held at an angle more than 90 but substantially less than 180. The means to hold them at such angle, out of planar alignment with each other, preferably consists of a simple tension member, such as the strap generally designated 45 whose lower end 46 is affixed to the midportion 13 of the bottom of the frame 10. The upper end of the strap 45 is looped around the end element 22 of the second frame 20 and secured to the mid-portion of the strap 45, by an end hook 47 through any one of a series of eyelets 48. Contrasting FIG. 3 with FIG. 4, moving the hook 47 to engagement into a different eyelet 48 permits an increased relative angularity; thus the second frame 20 may assume a substantially horizontal position as shown in FIG. 4.

To set the portfolio in such a horizontal position, the third frame 25 is lowered out of the elevated position shown in FIG. 3. The manner of erection and lowering will be obvious. A retention clip generally designated 50 and best shown in FIG. 4, is somewhat S-shaped; it has a knuckle portion 51 pivotally mounted at the midpoint of the end element 12 of the first frame 10, and an open hook-like portion 52 depending therefrom. The length and opening of the hook-like portion 52 are so proportioned as to engage the end element 27 of the third frame 25 when folded as in FIG. 1, holding it in substantial planar alignment with the second frame 22; that is, permitting it to drop below alignment only that small amount illustrated in FIG. 4. To erect the third frame 25 into the position shown in FIG. 3, the frame 25 is released from its engagement by the hook-like portion 52 and raised; the fourth frame 30 is hingedly lowered therefrom, and its end element 32 is engaged into the hook-like portion 52 of the clip 50, as shown in FIG. 3. This provides the greatest angle of elevation.

Should an angle of elevation greater than that illustrated in FIG. 3 be desired, a fourth frame with somewhat longer side elements than the side elements 31 may be substituted 4- for the frame 30, for much additional length is available within the third frame 25.

Inasmuch as it is intended that the present easel be carried within a portfolio whose length and width is only slightly greater than that of the first frame 10, such portfolio, when laid in place on the easel adjacent to the ledge angle member 40, will serve as a working surface of a size ideally suited to fit upon the easel and to support the largest size sheets of paper or canvas for which the portfolio is intended.

In the claims which follow, the term planar is utilized as meaning substantially within the shallow space afforded by the thickness of the frame members; the term frame means both the four-sided member 10 and the series of hingedly attached members 20, 25 and 30 which individually are U-shaped; and the terms rectangular and right-angled do not exclude the use of bend radii.

Variations in details of construction will occur to those interested in the subject matter; for instance other forms of hinge attachments may be substituted; other art materials abutment support means may be utilized instead of the pivoted bracket 35 and ledge angle member 40, for similar purposes, and other means utilized to set the frames into and out of planar alignment with each other. The present invention is therefore not to be construed narrowly, but rather as fully co-extensive with the claims hereof.

I claim:

1. A folding easel comprising a plurality of planar frames of successively smaller size,

both in length and width,

the largest of said frames having an end element defining its width and side elements extending perpendicularly therefrom,

a second, smaller frame of said plurality having a hinged attachment to said end element of the first frame, side elements extending therefrom, and an end element perpendicular to said side elements and disposed parallel to and remote from the end element of the first frame,

a third frame smaller than the second frame and having a hinged attachment to said end element thereof,

means to hold the second frame out of planar alignment with the first frame,

and means to hold said third frame out of planar alignment with the second frame and at a greater angle of elevation,

whereby said hinged attachments of the frames to each other permit them to be folded into planar alignment with each other and erected out of such planar alignment.

2. An easel as defined in claim 1,

wherein the third frame has an end element remote from its hinged attachment and parallel to the end element of the second frame, and

wherein the means to hold said third frame out of planar alignment with said second frame consists of a fourth frame smaller than the third and hingedly secured to the end element of the third frame, and a retention clip releasably securable between the fourth frame remotely from its said hinged attachment and the said end element of the first frame.

3. An easel as defined in claim 2,

wherein the fourth frame has an end element remote from its hinged attachment and parallel to the end element of the third frame, and

wherein the retention clip is pivotally mounted on the said end element of the first frame and has a hooklike depending portion,

whereby to engage said end element of the fourth frame and thereby erect the third frame out of planar alignment with the second frame and at a greater angle of elevation, and alternately to engage the end element of the third frame and retain same folded 5 within and substantially in alignment with the second 3,029,548 frame. 3,193,240 References Cited 3198475 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 87 57 730,774 6/1903 Kingsbury 248-444 2,592,252 4/1952 De Coste 248-464 6 4/1962 Braha 248-455 7/ 1965 Browett 248449 8/ 1965 Flahive 248-445 FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1956 Norway.

JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING EASEL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PLANAR FRAMES OF SUCCESSIVELY SMALLER SIZE, BOTH IN LENGTH AND WIDTH, THE LARGEST OF SAID FRAMES HAVING AN END ELEMENT DEFINING ITS WIDTH AND SIDE ELEMENTS EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY THEREFROM, A SECOND, SMALLER FRAME OF SAID PLURALITY HAVING A HINGED ATTACHMENT TO SAID END ELEMENT OF THE FIRST FRAME, SIDE ELEMENTS EXTENDING THEREFROM, AND AN END ELEMENT PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SIDE ELEMENTS AND DISPOSED PARALLEL TO AND REMOTE FROM THE END ELEMENT OF THE FIRST FRAME, A THIRD FRAME SMALLER THAN THE SECOND FRAME AND HAVING A HINGED ATTACHMENT TO SAID END ELEMENT THEREOF, MEANS TO HOLD THE SECOND FRAME OUT OF PLANAR ALIGNMENT WITH THE FIRST FRAME, AND MEANS TO HOLD SAID THIRD FRAME OUT OF PLANAR ALIGNMENT WITH THE SECOND FRAME AND AT A GREATER ANGLE OF ELEVATION, WHEREBY SAID HINGED ATTACHMENTS OF THE FRAMES TO EACH OTHER PERMIT THEM TO BE FOLDED INTO PLANAR ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND ERECTED OUT OF SUCH PLANAR ALIGNMENT. 